New York state forest fire threat soars due to lack of rain and snowless winter

The extremely dry summer has increased the threat of forest fires in the area and state forest rangers are trying to get the message out about the need for increased fire safety.
(ERICA MILLER, emiller@saratogian.com)

Eleven-year-old Emma Barron of Stillwater tends to a campfire while staying at Moreau Lake State Park.
The extremely dry summer has increased the threat of forest fires in the area and state forest rangers are trying to get the message out about the need for increased fire safety.
(ERICA MILLER, emiller@saratogian.com)

SARATOGA SPRINGS -- For state forest rangers, preventing fires starts with getting the message out about the need for increased safety during an extremely dry summer.

Precipitation since June 1 is less than half the norm.

Combined with this year's snowless winter, much of the surrounding region, including the Adirondacks, is a virtual tinderbox.

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"Back country fires are caused by two things: careless campers and lightning," said Lt. John Solan, who commands forest rangers in Saratoga and Washington counties. "These are the ones that are of particular concern to us right now. Even established fireplaces in developed campgrounds should be kept small and no fire should ever be left unattended. In primitive areas, we're discouraging fires altogether unless absolutely necessary."

Three fires in the Adirondacks, one started by an unattended campfire, have already burned eight acres of wild lands.

In the past six weeks, there have been 2.26 inches of precipitation -- 3.1 inches below the norm for this period -- with little relief in sight. Today's forecast calls for a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms, but such rain is often scattered and accompanied by lightning that can do more harm than good.

"This will wet the ground, but it's not going to contribute much to alleviate the dry conditions," said Ray O'Keefe, a National Weather Service meteorologist based in Albany.

The extended forecast through Thursday has more high temperatures and none of the soaking rain needed to reduce the threat of fire. Depending on how things play out, forest rangers in partnership with state police aircraft pilots, might begin doing aerial detection flights in the next week or so.

Sometimes, lightning strikes in July can smolder below ground for many days and won't become evident, with smoke, until August.

Solan said several small brush fires have occurred in recent weeks that local volunteer fire companies have handled because the blazes have been accessible, along roadsides or in backyards.

On state lands, rangers are doing everything possible to get the word out about the need for increased fire safety. However, budget-related staff cuts is making the job more difficult.

In 2008, there were 138 forest rangers statewide. There are now 114, a 17 percent reduction, state Department of Environmental Conservation spokesman David Winchell said.

Also, Region 5, which encompasses the local area, used to have 12 seasonal rangers.

"This year and last we had eight," he said.

State Sen. Betty Little, R-Glens Falls, whose district includes the eastern Adirondacks, said summers have been wet enough the past few years that forest ranger numbers haven't been a concern.

"Are we staffed well enough in the field?" she said. "We haven't had a need, which we could in the next few weeks."

In dire situations, volunteer firefighters could be recruited and paid to help out, Little said.

In light of existing conditions, the senator questioned a state law that prohibits harvesting of fallen trees on forest preserve lands. "On private lands, they continue to take pieces of dead wood out," she said. "A microburst downed thousands of trees on state land a while back. There's a lot of underbrush and debris in the forest. The drier it is, the more dangerous it is. We have to use extreme caution."

Fire safety tips

The Adirondacks are at a high fire danger level. The state Department of Environmental Conservation has issued the following safety tips:

o When possible, use existing campfire rings and keep fires small.

o Scrape away litter and any burnable material within a 10-foot circle to keep a campfire from spreading.

o Never leave a campfire unattended.

o Drown all fires with water. Make sure all embers, coals and sticks are wet. Stir the remains, add more water and stir again.

o Use a cooking stove instead of a fire to prepare meals.

o Campfires are prohibited in the Eastern High Peaks Wilderness.

Also, the DEC has asked residents not to burn brush as this time, especially from late morning through early evening when it's most windy. People are also asked to be cautious with barbecue grills and to keep them away from brush, grass and other flammable materials. Don't dispose of charcoal ashes or embers until they are cool to the touch. The illegal use of fireworks can also start wildfires.